Heart valve prosthesis delivery system

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to heart valve prostheses, delivery devices, actuation handles, and other improved devices and methods that facilitate delivery of a heart valve prosthesis to a defective native valve structure in a patient, such as the aortic valve.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for delivering a prosthetic heart valve prosthesis to a native valve structure of a patient, the valve prosthesis comprising a valve frame and a valve anchor, the method comprising:
 introducing the valve prosthesis into the patient at an implantation site via a valve prosthesis delivery device, the device comprising a proximal sheath component and a distal carrier assembly, the proximal sheath component receiving at least a portion of the valve anchor in a proximal sheath lumen, and the distal carrier assembly comprising a distal enclosure and a proximal enclosure, the distal enclosure being configured to receive at least a distal portion of the valve frame, the proximal enclosure being longitudinally movable relative to the proximal sheath component; 
 advancing the valve prosthesis to the implantation site via an aorta; 
 proximally retracting the proximal sheath in a proximal direction to permit expansion of the valve anchor; 
 expanding the distal carrier assembly to permit expansion of the valve frame; and 
 distally urging a base portion of the valve anchor into engagement with a native valve structure. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising advancing the valve prosthesis in a retrograde direction. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising proximally retracting the valve frame relative to the valve anchor to engage a link mechanism therebetween, wherein the link mechanism restricts a range of movement of the valve frame relative to the valve anchor. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 3 , further comprising distally advancing the valve frame. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the expanding longitudinally separates the distal enclosure from the proximal enclosure to permit expansion of the distal portion of the valve frame. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the expanding comprises distally advancing the distal enclosure relative to the proximal enclosure to permit expansion of the distal portion of the valve frame. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the expanding comprises proximally retracting the proximal enclosure relative to the distal enclosure to permit expansion of a proximal portion of the valve frame. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the expanding comprises proximally retracting the distal enclosure relative to the proximal enclosure and distally advancing the proximal enclosure relative to the distal enclosure to move the distal carrier assembly to a retrieval configuration for retracting the valve prosthesis delivery device from the patient. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the expanding the distal carrier assembly occurs after expansion of the valve anchor. 
     
     
       10. A method for delivering a prosthetic heart valve prosthesis to a native valve structure of a patient, the valve prosthesis comprising a valve frame and a valve anchor, the method comprising:
 introducing the valve prosthesis into the patient at an implantation site via a valve prosthesis delivery device, the device comprising a proximal sheath component and a distal carrier assembly, the proximal sheath component receiving at least a portion of the valve anchor in a proximal sheath lumen, and the distal carrier assembly comprising a distal enclosure and a proximal enclosure, the distal enclosure being configured to receive at least a distal portion of the valve frame, the proximal enclosure being longitudinally movable relative to the proximal sheath component; 
 advancing the valve prosthesis to the implantation site via an apex of a heart of the patient; 
 proximally retracting the proximal sheath in a proximal direction to permit expansion of the valve anchor; 
 expanding the distal carrier assembly to permit expansion of the valve frame; and 
 proximally urging a base portion of the valve anchor into engagement with a native valve structure. 
 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10 , further comprising advancing the valve prosthesis in an antegrade direction. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 10 , further comprising proximally retracting the valve frame relative to the valve anchor to engage a link mechanism, wherein the link mechanism restricts a range of movement of the valve frame relative to the valve anchor. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12 , further comprising distally advancing the valve frame. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the expanding longitudinally separates the distal enclosure from the proximal enclosure to permit expansion of the distal portion of the valve frame. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the expanding comprises distally advancing the distal enclosure relative to the proximal enclosure to permit expansion of the distal portion of the valve frame. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the expanding comprises proximally retracting the proximal enclosure relative to the distal enclosure to permit expansion of a proximal portion of the valve frame. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the expanding comprises proximally retracting the distal enclosure relative to the proximal enclosure and distally advancing the proximal enclosure relative to the distal enclosure to move the distal carrier assembly to a retrieval configuration for retracting the valve prosthesis delivery device from the patient. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the expanding the distal carrier assembly occurs after expansion of the valve anchor.